Sociolinguistics studies the relationship between language and society, focusing on how language varies based on social factors and contexts. It examines the social functions of language, such as identity signaling and variations in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar across different social scenarios. The chapter outlines key terms, methods of investigation, and social dimensions that influence language use.

1. What do Sociolinguistics
study?
Chapter one

2. Aims
 To define sociolinguistics.
 To understand its scope.
 To identify related terms.
 To identify the components of the situation.
 To identify social dimensions.

3. What is Sociolinguistics?
 It studies the relationship between language and society.
 We speak differently in different social contexts.
 Identifying the social functions of language.
 Language use to convey social meaning.
 It signals aspects of people’s social identity.
 It is an interdisciplinary field.
 Studies patterns of language variations based on social factors.

4. People

5. Examples
 Address forms: provides non-linguistic information about
relations that govern the situation.
Mrs. Walker
Margaret Meg Mum
Sweetie madam

6. What are the different ways we
say things?
 Vocabulary, sounds, grammar.
 ‫الطائرة‬ ‫مغادرة‬ ‫قبل‬ ‫امتعتك‬ ‫اخذ‬ ‫من‬ ‫تاكد‬
 ‫الطيارة‬ ‫برا‬ ‫تطلع‬ ‫ما‬ ‫قبل‬ ‫اغراضك‬ ‫اخذت‬ ‫انك‬ ‫تاكد‬
 different dialects (standard, regional).
One-minute activity:
Give example of two ways of saying the same thing?

7. Terms
 Variety (code): any set of linguistic forms that patterns
according to social factors (p.6). It refers to language in social
context. It includes accents, style, dialects and languages.
 Linguistic (verbal) repertoire: the range of varieties from
which people select according to the context in which they
are communicating. It is acquired as part of our knowledge.
(P.8)
 In monolingual communities dialects.
 In multilingual communities languages.

8. Linguistic variation
 Reflects social factors:
1- Vocabulary or word choice
2- Pronunciation
3- Grammar
4- Conversational practices.

9. Social Factors
components of the Situation
Components of the
situation
Participants
(who/to whom)
Setting (where) Topic (what) Function (why)

10. Social Dimensions
1- social distance scale: solidarity, relations between
participants.
Intimate distant
High solidarity low solidarity

11. 2- The Status Scale
 Relations between participants.
Superior high status
Subordinate low status

12. 3- The Formality Scale
 Related to the setting
formal high formality
Informal low formality

13. 4- Two-Functional Scales
 Related to purpose of interaction.
High information referential low information
content content
Low affective affective high affective
content content

14. How to investigate it?
 We identify the linguistic variety involved (language).
 We identify different social or non-linguistic factors (society).
Sociolinguistics aims at developing a theory of how language is
used in a community.

15. The end
 The definition of sociolinguistics.
 Its importance and scope.
 Social factors (the components of the situation).
 Social dimensions.
H.W. draw a mind map summarizing chapter one.